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Obama's Campaign Finance Rhetoric is Misleading

Actions will always speak louder than words. For instance, President Barack Obama preaching a minimal role for corporations in funding campaigns isn’t ethical when in fact he himself was a major recipient of corporate funds leading up to his presidential election in 2008. In fact, according to The Washington Examiner,

Obama’s $995,000 from employees and executives at investment bank giant Goldman Sachs is the most a politician has raised from a single company since the 2001 campaign finance reform law.

Interestingly enough, President Obama raised $14.8 million from Wall Street, which The Washington Examiner reports as, “more than any politician in history.” Clearly, President Obama has not practiced what he’s preached with regard to campaign finance.

These financial details were revealed on account of Obama’s recent comments regarding the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission from last week. The Washington Examiner reports that Obama stated the following:

I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests.

In addition to the exorbitant contributions which Obama received from the financial sector, Obama’s campaign also received $1.4 million from the health insurance industry and $2.1 million from the pharmaceutical industry. If investment banks, health insurers, and pharmaceutical companies don’t in fact represent “America’s most powerful interests,” then I’m not quite sure who does.

Once again, it’s important to remember that actions speak louder than words. In this case, Obama’s actions clearly outweigh his recent commentary on our country’s new campaign finance law.

On June 29 President Obama published a blog on Huffington Post announcing his “plan to extend overtime protections to nearly 5 million workers in 2016, covering all salaried workers making up to about $50,400 next year.”

Democracy and Power 103: Government Money
The money taxed and spent by the politicians comes from the labor and ingenuity of millions of working persons. Politicians spend other peoples’ money. The politician transfers money from productive people to favored special interest groups.

Washington, DC- Following news that the Obama administration refused to release documents that could prove the IRS shared taxpayer returns with the White House, FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe released the following statement:

Personal Freedom and Prosperity 110: The Rule of Law
Obama and “Respect for the Rule of Law”
Addressing the United Nations, President Obama praised America for resolving religious and racial differences, which was achieved “with respect for the rule of law.” Mr. Obama said,

Slowly making its way through the Senate without too much notice is a joint resolution (S.J.Res. 19), sponsored by Tom Udall and enjoying the vocal support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, that would rewrite the founding document of our country in ways never before imagined.

Senator Kay Hagan is trying to prove she can be tough on the president, (although voting with the president’s agenda 92% of the time makes it hard to believe) by issuing a harsh statement about his commitment to and treatment of veterans. Senator Hagan released a statement minutes after it was announced that President Obama was going to speak at the American Legion’s 96th National Convention. The senator states, “I hope to hear the president address these challenges at the American Legion’s National Convention in Charlotte. I will be there to discuss some of the steps I want to see taken in Washington to uphold the commitment our government has made to North Carolina’s veterans.” She goes on to brag she is Member of the Armed Services Committee and that she “comes from a strong military family.”

Democracy and Power 112: Fidelity to Leadership
To be a powerful legislative force, a politician must be an obedient member of a party – Democrat or Republican. Obedient means absolute loyalty to their caucus’s dictates.